PSYC 1010 Unit 1 Practice Questions

**Part 1: Foundations of Research** 1. What is the primary purpose of research? - A\) To confirm pre-existing beliefs - B\) To systematically investigate and establish facts - C\) To manipulate data to support a hypothesis - D\) To rely on subjective interpretations 2....

**Part 1: Foundations of Research** 1. What is the primary purpose of research? - A\) To confirm pre-existing beliefs - B\) To systematically investigate and establish facts - C\) To manipulate data to support a hypothesis - D\) To rely on subjective interpretations 2. The **scientific method** consists of: - A\) Random guessing and informal observations - B\) Conducting systematic and controlled investigations - C\) Avoiding statistical analysis in research - D\) Making conclusions without evidence 3. What are the three key elements of the **Research Trinity**? - A\) Hypothesis, Testing, Reporting - B\) Sample, Data, Interpretation - C\) Design, Measurement, Analysis - D\) Observation, Conclusion, Application 4. **Empirical research** relies on: - A\) Personal opinions and beliefs - B\) Observation and measurement of data - C\) Theoretical assumptions without testing - D\) Expert judgment rather than data 5. The **main purpose of research** is to: - A\) Make predictions based on personal experience - B\) Identify patterns and establish facts - C\) Replace scientific inquiry with intuition - D\) Avoid using systematic investigation **Part 2: Research Design & Variables** 6. A **research design** is: - A\) A method for organizing opinions - B\) A structured plan for conducting a study - C\) A way to manipulate data - D\) A process that removes variability 7. The **difference between a population and a sample** is: - A\) A sample is a subset of the population - B\) A population is always smaller than a sample - C\) A sample includes all individuals in a study - D\) A population is selected randomly 8. A **random sample** ensures that: - A\) Some individuals have a higher chance of selection - B\) Every individual has an equal chance of selection - C\) It always produces the most accurate results - D\) The researcher chooses participants based on convenience 9. **Operational definitions** are necessary to: - A\) Explain how variables will be measured in a study - B\) Allow researchers to change definitions mid-study - C\) Avoid using numerical data - D\) Ensure conclusions are subjective 10. A **dependent variable** is: - A\) The variable manipulated by the researcher - B\) The variable that changes in response to another variable - C\) A variable that remains constant throughout a study - D\) The variable that defines the research hypothesis **Part 3: Measurement & Data Collection** 11. Which of the following is an example of a **nominal variable**? - A\) Height in centimeters - B\) Blood type (A, B, AB, O) - C\) Temperature in Fahrenheit - D\) Time in seconds 12. Which **measurement scale** includes a **true zero point**? - A\) Ordinal - B\) Ratio - C\) Interval - D\) Nominal 13. Which of the following is an **ordinal variable**? - A\) Weight in pounds - B\) Academic rankings (1st, 2nd, 3rd) - C\) Temperature in Celsius - D\) Number of hours worked per week 14. The primary advantage of **quantitative research** is: - A\) It provides numerical data that can be analyzed statistically - B\) It allows for deep personal insights - C\) It eliminates bias from research completely - D\) It replaces the need for qualitative studies 15. The **difference between descriptive and inferential statistics** is: - A\) Descriptive statistics summarize data, inferential statistics make predictions - B\) Inferential statistics summarize data, descriptive statistics predict outcomes - C\) Descriptive statistics analyze raw data, inferential statistics create graphs - D\) Inferential statistics use probability, descriptive statistics use hypothesis testing **Part 4: Ethics & Validity in Research** 16. **Ethical research practices** require that participants: - A\) Are informed about the study and voluntarily consent - B\) Must participate regardless of their choice - C\) Are unaware of the study's purpose - D\) Must be financially compensated 17. A **double-blind study** is designed to: - A\) Ensure both participants and researchers are unaware of key details - B\) Keep only the participants uninformed about the study conditions - C\) Allow researchers to adjust participant responses - D\) Eliminate ethical concerns in research 18. **Validity** in research refers to: - A\) How well a study measures what it claims to measure - B\) The number of participants in a study - C\) Whether statistical calculations were performed - D\) How long a study took to complete 19. **External validity** means that: - A\) Results can be generalized to other populations - B\) Results apply only to the study's participants - C\) The research was conducted in a controlled environment - D\) The study used only descriptive statistics 20. **Internal validity** ensures that: - A\) The study is free from confounding variables - B\) The study can be generalized to a large population - C\) Participants cannot withdraw from the study - D\) The study always takes place in a laboratory **Part 5: The Scientific Method & Logical Reasoning** 21. **Which of the following best describes the scientific method?** - A\) A step-by-step procedure used only in experimental research - B\) A systematic process for testing hypotheses through observation and analysis - C\) A method used to confirm pre-existing beliefs through controlled studies - D\) A process that avoids mathematical calculations in research 22. **Inductive reasoning involves:** - A\) Moving from a general theory to a specific hypothesis - B\) Drawing broad generalizations from specific observations - C\) Making assumptions based on past research results - D\) Relying only on experimental data to form conclusions 23. **Deductive reasoning differs from inductive reasoning in that it:** - A\) Begins with a general principle and applies it to specific cases - B\) Uses small samples to form broad generalizations - C\) Avoids making predictions based on existing theories - D\) Focuses only on qualitative research methods 24. **A hypothesis must be:** - A\) Proven true before research begins - B\) A testable statement that can be confirmed or refuted - C\) A random guess made by a researcher - D\) An opinion rather than an objective statement 25. **Why is skepticism important in the scientific method?** - A\) It prevents researchers from accepting results without questioning validity - B\) It discourages the replication of experiments - C\) It ensures that all studies use the same methodology - D\) It allows researchers to ignore unexpected results **Part 6: Control in Research & Bias Prevention** 26. **What is the primary purpose of using a control group in an experiment?** - A\) To manipulate the dependent variable - B\) To compare results against an untreated or standard condition - C\) To ensure all participants receive the same treatment - D\) To eliminate the need for statistical analysis 27. **Which of the following is an example of a confounding variable?** - A\) A researcher's decision to randomly assign participants to groups - B\) A factor that unintentionally influences the dependent variable - C\) The main effect of the independent variable - D\) A statistical measure used in hypothesis testing 28. **How does random assignment help reduce bias in research?** - A\) It ensures that each participant receives the same treatment - B\) It assigns participants to groups based on their preferences - C\) It evenly distributes potential confounding variables across conditions - D\) It eliminates the need for a hypothesis 29. **Blinding (or masking) in an experiment is used to:** - A\) Prevent researchers and/or participants from knowing certain conditions - B\) Increase the number of confounding variables - C\) Ensure that all research studies use the same methodology - D\) Allow participants to select which experimental group they join 30. **Which type of bias occurs when researchers unintentionally influence the results of a study?** - A\) Selection bias - B\) Observer expectancy effect - C\) Publication bias - D\) Sampling error **Part 7: Data Interpretation & Statistical Concepts** 31. **Descriptive statistics are used to:** - A\) Make inferences about a population based on sample data - B\) Summarize, organize, and simplify data sets - C\) Establish causal relationships between variables - D\) Determine whether a hypothesis is correct 32. **Inferential statistics allow researchers to:** - A\) Summarize large amounts of data without making predictions - B\) Generalize findings from a sample to a larger population - C\) Avoid using mathematical calculations in research - D\) Measure the exact characteristics of an entire population 33. **What does the term "sampling error" refer to?** - A\) A mistake made when collecting data - B\) The difference between a sample statistic and the corresponding population parameter - C\) A calculation error in statistical analysis - D\) A research study that fails to follow ethical guidelines 34. **Which of the following best explains the role of replication in research?** - A\) It ensures that the same participants are used in all experiments - B\) It prevents biases from affecting research conclusions - C\) It confirms the reliability and validity of findings through repeated studies - D\) It replaces the need for descriptive statistics 35. **Peer review in research serves to:** - A\) Allow scientists to share data without verification - B\) Ensure research meets academic standards before publication - C\) Replace the need for statistical analysis in studies - D\) Eliminate the need for further replication of results **Part 8: Research Applications & Ethics** 36. **What is the purpose of knowledge translation (KT) in research?** - A\) To convert research findings into real-world applications - B\) To replace the scientific method with qualitative approaches - C\) To remove all statistical procedures from clinical research - D\) To ensure that studies only focus on theoretical models 37. **Which of the following is an example of research that lacks external validity?** - A\) A study that cannot be generalized beyond its specific sample - B\) An experiment with a poorly defined independent variable - C\) A research paper that contains calculation errors - D\) A study with high reliability but no ethical approval 38. **Informed consent requires that participants:** - A\) Be given all necessary information before deciding to participate - B\) Be forced to complete a study once they start - C\) Avoid asking questions about the research - D\) Agree to participate without knowing any study details 39. **The main ethical concern with research deception is that it:** - A\) Prevents participants from fully understanding a study's purpose - B\) Invalidates all data collected from the study - C\) Replaces the need for a hypothesis - D\) Reduces the ability to apply inferential statistics 40. **Why is research replication often overlooked in the scientific community?** - A\) It is time-consuming and less likely to be published - B\) It is not required for a study to be considered valid - C\) It does not improve the reliability of findings - D\) It replaces the need for a control group in experiments Answer key -------------- ------------ **Question** **Answer** -------------- ------------ --- --- 1 B --- --- --- --- 2 B --- --- --- --- 3 C --- --- --- --- 4 B --- --- --- --- 5 B --- --- --- --- 6 B --- --- --- --- 7 A --- --- --- --- 8 B --- --- --- --- 9 A --- --- ---- --- 10 B ---- --- ---- --- 11 C ---- --- ---- --- 12 B ---- --- ---- --- 13 B ---- --- ---- --- 14 A ---- --- ---- --- 15 D ---- --- ---- --- 16 A ---- --- ---- --- 17 A ---- --- ---- --- 18 C ---- --- ---- --- 19 D ---- --- +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 20 | A | +===================================+===================================+ | ---- --- | | | 21 B | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 22 C | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 23 A | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 24 D | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 25 A | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 26 B | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 27 C | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 28 D | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 29 A | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 30 B | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 31 C | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 32 D | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 33 A | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 34 B | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 35 D | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 36 A | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 37 B | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 38 C | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 39 D | | | ---- --- | | | | | | ---- --- | | | 40 A | | | ---- --- | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+